Lined wirebound box blank



Feb. 14, 1961 J. l-L oBERTs 2,971,665

LINED WIREBOUND BOX BLANK Filed D90. 31, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F EL Ch INVENTOR JOHN H. ROBERTS BY iiNEYs Feb. 14, 1961 J. H. ROBERTS 2,971,665

LINED WIREBOUND BOX BLANK Filed Dec. :51, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ESE- JOHN H. ROBERTS BY y ll- Q Q ATTORNEY s l United States LINED WIREBOUND BOX BLANK John H. Roberts, Homestead, Fla., assignor to Vernon E. Ramsey, Suffolk, Va.

Filed Dec. 31, 1958, Ser. No. 784,365

4 Claims. (Cl. 217-3) storage and transportation of the box blank as well as use thereof when erected to form a box.

As is well known, boxes or crates commonly utilized for packaging fruit, vegetables and other material are commonly manufactured of wood slats secured together by cleats at the ends thereof, a plurality of these slats being secured together in side by side relationship by wires spaced longitudinally of the slats and extending transversely thereof with the wires being secured to the slats by staples or the like and with the wires terminating at their opposite ends in loop or other fasteners which are disposed adjacent the free edges of the front wall and the top wall of the box which is formed by the blank when in erected position.

It has been common practice to line these box blanks with cardboard, paper or other suitable material which serves to protect the contents of the box and it has also been common practice to provide a flap of the lining material at the free edge of the front wall in order that such flap may be folded over the fruit or other contents of the box to cover the same along the line of juncture between the front wall and the top wall of the box. Heretofore, this flap of the lining material has proved particularly troublesome in that the same frequently became dis placed prior to erecting the blank to form a box, thereby in some instances interfering with the blank making machinery and in others, interfering with the storage or transportation of the blanks. Furthermore, during packing of the box, it was often difficult to fold the flap out of the way since such folding was prevented by the projecting wire loops which were subsequently utilized to secure the top wall to the front side wall with the result that the flap was often not utilized in the manner intended but remained folded within the box and did not properly cover the fruit or other material therein.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a lined wirebound box blank in which the lining secured to the front wall of the box is formed in such a manner as to retain the same in place within the confines of the blank until such time as the blank may be erected to form abox. v A further object of the invention is the provision of a lined wirebound box blank in which the lining material is applied to the front wall of the box in the form of a folded sheet having inner andouter layers and in which the inner layer is secured in place by frangible tabs which may be easily torn to permit movement of the inner layer to proper position for filling and closing the box. I A still further object of the invention is the provision of a lined wirebound box blank in which a folded sheet of lining material is applied to the inner surface of the front wall of the box with the folded edge of the lining material spaced inwardly from the free edge of the front wall and with a fold line provided in the inner layer of atent O i 2,971,665 Patented Feb. .14, 1961 ice the lining material, the fold line being spaced inwardly from the folded edge of the lining material a distance equal to the distance between the folded edge and the free edge of the front wall of the box to permit folding of the lining material about the fold line to provide a protective flap.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a lined wirebound box blank in which a folded sheet of lining material is applied to the inner surface of the front wall of the box with the inner layer of the lining material being provided with a slot adjacent the folded edge for receiving the projecting fastener portion of one of the wires securing the parts of the box together and there also being provided a flap for closing the slot.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is a view in perspective showing the lined wirebound box blank of this invention;

Fig. 2 an elevational view of the inner surface of the front wall of the box and showing in full lines the folded box lining and in dotted lines the lining in unfolded position;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a box constructed by erecting the box blank shown in Fig. 1 and showing the protective flap of the liner on the front wall of the box folded to box packing position;

Fig. 4 a view in perspective showing a box constructed from the liner of this invention filled with fruit or other material and with the protective flap in position for closing the top wall of the box; and

Fig. 5 a view in perspective showing a closed box constructed from the box blank of Fig. 1.

With continued reference to the drawing, there is shown in, Fig. l a box blank constructed in accordance with this invention and which may well comprise a plurality of panels 10, 11, 12 and 13 forming front, bottom, rear and top walls when erected to form a box. The panels 10, 11, 12 and 13 may be conveniently manufactured of wood slats 14, the slats of the panel 10 being secured together by cleats 15 secured to the opposite end edges of the slats 14 on the inner surfaces thereof while the slats of the panels 11, 12 and 13 are secured together by cleats 16 secured to the inner surfaces of these slats in the same manner as the cleats 15.

The panels 10, 11,12 and 13 are secured together in spaced side by side relationship with the cleats 15 and 16 in alignment by wires 17, 13 and 19 spaced longitudinally of the panels and extending transversely thereof with the wires being secured to the panels by staples or other suitable fastening means, not shown, and with the wires 17, 18 and 19 terminating at the free edge 20 of the panel 10 in fastening loops 21, 22 and 23 and also terminating at the free edge 24 of the panel 13 in fastening loops 25, 26 and 27. The cleats 15 and 16 are provided with beveled ends 28 and 29 respectively to permit erecting of the blank to form a generally rectangular box by bending the wires 17, 18 and 19 between the panels 10, 11, 12 and 13, the erected box being shown in Figs. 3 to 5.

Box blanks of the type under consideration are normally provided with a lining in the form of sheets of cardboard, paper or other suitable material disposed on the inner surfaces of the box and for convenience of illustration, the lining is shown only on the panel 10 which forms the front wall of the box. However, it is to be understood that normally sheets of lining material will be provided on the panels 11, 12 and 13 and such sheets are normally secured in place by disposing them on the inner surface of the panels with the end edges of the sheets disposed between the cleats 16 and the surface of the panel. Thus, the fruit or other material in the box will only come in contact with the cardboard V V 3 or paper lining material which serves to cushion the same and prevent damage thereto.

The lining provided on the panel 10 forming the front walliofthe box is particularly designed to facilitate manufacture, storage and transportation of the box blank as well as the erection and filling of the box In accordance with this invention the lining for the panel 10 forming the front wall of the box is provided in the form of a folded sheet of material 30 providing inner and'outer layers 31 and 32 respectively with the outer. layer 32 disposed on the inner surface of the panel 10 and with the end edges of the outer layer 32 disposed between the cleats 15 and the panel 10. The inner layer 31 is of less length than the outer layer 32 and the inner layer 31 is secured in place solely by tabs 33 on opposite end edges thereof extending beneath the cleats 15. The folded edge 34 of the liner 30 is spaced inwardly from the free edge 20 of the panel 10 and the opposite edge 35 of the liner 30 is disposed adjacent the opposite edge of the panel 10 andis provided with a finger engaging notch 36 the purpose of which will be presently described.

A fold line 37 extends longitudinally of the inner layer 31 of the liner 30 and the fold line 37 is spaced from the folded edge 34 a distance equal to the distance between the folded edge 34 and the free edge 30 of the panel 10. A slot 38 is provided in the inner layer 31 of the liner 30 adjacent the folded edge 34 and in alignment with the wire 18 and a flap 39 is provided for closing the slot 38.

The box blank is normally supplied in the condition shown in Fig. 1 and when it is desired to erect the arne for forming a box as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the wires connecting the panels 1%), 11, 12 and 13 are bent between the panels to permit movement of the panels to the position shown in Figs. 3 to and at the same'time the operator may place a finger in the notch 36 and move the inner layer 31 of the liner 30 upwardly by tearing the tabs 33 with the inner layer 31 being moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. At this time the inner layer 31 is bent along the fold line 37 to the position shown in Fig. 3 to form the protective flap 40 the purpose of which will presently appear. At this time the fastener loop 22 of the wire 18 projects through the slot 38 and the closure flap 39 remains inwardly of the loop 22 as shown in Fig. 3. In this position of the inner layer 31 of the liner 30 the entire inner surface of the panel forming the front wall of the box is covered and the box may then be filled with fruit or other material to the level shown in Fig. 4. Upon completion of the filling of the box the protective flap 40 is folded over the top of the fruit or other material in the box as shown in Fig. 4 and at this time the flap 39 closes the slot 38 in the protective flap 4i). Thereafter the panel 13 forming the top wall of the box may be moved downwardly to closed position and secured in such position by inter-engagement of the fastening loops at the opposite ends of the wires 17, 18 and 19.

It will thus be seen that by the above described invention there has been provided a liner for a box blank designed in such a manner that the portion forming a protective flap at the line of juncture between the front wall and the top wall is held in position during manufacture of the blank as well as storage and shipping thereof and upon erection of the blank to form a box this portion of the liner may be moved to operative position without necessitating the use of cutting or other tools and also may be moved to a position to permit convenient filling of the box and thereafter moved to closure position. This invention is useable without modification of the present form of box blank, it only being necessary to provide a liner for the front wall of the box formed and installed in accordance with this invention.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lined wirebound box blank including panels forming front, bottom, rear and top walls when erected to form a box, a cleat secured to the inner surface of each panel at opposite end edges, said panels being secured together in spaced, side by side relationship with said cleats in alignment by wiresospaced longitudinally of and extending transversely of said panels, said wires being secured to each panel and terminating in loop fasteners i said panels to secure said sheets in place, a folded sheet of lining material providing inner and outer layers disposed on the inner surface of the panel forming said front wall with the folded edge of said folded sheet spaced inwardly from the free edge of said front wall and with the free edges of said folded sheet disposed adjacent the opposite edge of said front wall, the outer layer of said folded sheet being disposed between the inner surface of said front wall and the cleats thereon to secure said sheet thereto, the inner layer of said folded sheet being of less length than said outer layer with the end edges of said inner layer being disposed inwardly of the inner sides .of said cleats, tabs extending from the end edges of said inner layer and disposed beneath the adjacent cleats, said tabs being secured between said cleats and said outer layer and providing the sole means for maintaining said folded sheet in folded position, said tabs being disposed adjacent the free edge of said inner layer, a fold line extending longitudinally of said inner layer, said fold line being spaced from said folded edge a distance equal to the distance between said folded edge and the free edge of said front panel, a finger engaging notch in the free edge of said inner layer, a slot in said inner layer at said folded edge for receiving one of said loop fasteners and a fiap for closing said slot, whereby said tabs may be torn to permit movement of said inner layer outwardly to cover the remainder of said front wall and said inner layer folded along said fold line to provide a flap for covering the contents of the box at the juncture between said front wall and said top wall.

2. A lined wirebound box blank including panels forming front, bottom, rear and top walls when erected to form a box, a cleat secured to the inner surface of each panel at opposite end edges, said panels being secured together in spaced, side by side relationship with said cleats in alignment by wires spaced longitudinally of and extending transversely of said panels, said wires being secured to each panel, a sheet of lining material on the inner surface of each panel forming bottom, rear and top walls, said sheets being disposed between said cleats and said panels to secure said sheets in'place, a folded sheet of lining material providing inner and outer layers disposed on the inner surface of the panel forming said front wall with the folded edge of said folded sheet spaced inwardly from the free edge of said front wall and with the free edges of said folded sheet disposed adjacent the opposite edge of said front wall, the outer layer of said folded sheet being disposed between the inner surface of said front wall and the cleats thereon to secure said sheet thereto, the inner layer of said folded sheet being of less length than said outer layer with the end edges of said inner layer being disposed inwardly of the inner side of said cleats, tabs extending from the end edges of said inner layer and disposed beneath the adjacent cleats, said tabs being secured between said cleats and said outer layer and providing the sole means for maintaining said folded sheet in folded position, said tabs being disposed adjacent the free edge of said inner layer and a fold line extending longitudinally of said inner layer, said fold line being spaced from said folded edge a distance equal to the distance between said folded edge and the free edge of said front panel, whereby said tabs may be torn to permit movement of said inner layer out- Wardly to cover the remainder of said front wall and said inner layer folded along said fold line to provide a flap for covering the contents of the box at the juncture between said front wall and said top wall.

3. A lined wirebound box blank including panels form ing front, bottom, rear and top walls when erected to form a box, a cleat secured to the inner surface of each panel at opposite end edges, said panels being secured together in spaced, side by side relationship with said cleats in alignment by wires spaced longitudinally of and extending transversely of said panels, said wires being secured to each panel, a folded sheet of lining material providing inner and outer layers disposed on the inner surface of the panel forming said front wall with the folded edge of said folded sheet spaced inwardly from the free edge of said front wall, the outer layer of said folded sheet being disposed between the inner surface of said front wall and the cleats thereon to secure said sheet thereto, the inner layer of said folded sheet being of less length than said outer layer with the end edges of said inner layer being disposed inwardly of the inner sides of said cleats, tabs extending from the end edges of said inner layer and disposed beneath the adjacent cleats, said tabs being secured between said cleats and said outer layer and providing the sole means for maintaining said folded sheet in folded position, said tabs being disposed adjacent the edge of said sheet opposite said folded edge and a fold line extending longitudinally of said inner layer, said fold line being spaced from said folded edge a distance equal to the distance between said folded edge and the free edge of said front panel, whereby said tabs may be torn to permit movement of said inner layer outwardly to cover the remainder of said front wall and said inner layer folded along said fold line to provide a flap for covering the contents of the box at the juncture between said front wall and said top wall.

4. A lined wirebound box blank including panels forming front, bottom, rear and top walls when erected to form a box, a cleat secured to the inner surface of each panel at opposite end edges, said panels being secured together in spaced, side by side relationship with said cleats in alignment by wires spaced longitudinally of and extending transversely of said panels, said wires being secured to each panel, a folded sheet of lining material providing inner and outer layers disposed on the inner surface of the panel forming said front wall, the outer layer of said folded sheet being secured to said front wall, the inner layer of said folded sheet being of less length than said outer layer with the end edges of said inner layer being disposed inwardly of the inner sides of said cleats and tabs extending from the end edges of said inner layer and secured to said front wall, said tabs being secured between said cleats and said outer layer and providing the sole means for maintaining said folded sheet in folded position, said tabs being disposed adjacent the free edge of said inner layer, whereby said tabs may be torn to permit movement of said inner layer outwardly to provide a flap for covering the contents of the box at the juncture between said front wall and said top wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,202,616 Bishop May 28, 1940 2,301,310 Messer Nov. 10, 1942 2,426,783 McCormick Sept. 2, 1947 2,691,480 Boeye et al. Oct. 12, 1954 2,698,109 Hogan et al. Dec. 28, 1934 2,899,119 Stowitts et al. Aug. 11, 1959 

